August15, 2009

Van Nuys, CA -- On reports that Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi, convicted in the Pan Am 103 terrorist attack in Lockerbie, Scotland, may soon be released from custody in the United Kingdom, Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today:

"I am deeply distressed to learn of the prospect that the Scottish Justice Minister may grant the Libyan prisoner Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi a so-called 'compassionate release' or may send him to Libya under the terms of a Prisoner Transfer Agreement that went into effect earlier this year. Al-Megrahi was convicted of involvement in one of the most monstrous acts of terrorism of this or any era. His release from Scottish prison, under any circumstance, would be a travesty and a display of contempt for the families of 270 dead innocents, including 189 Americans. I call on Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill not to release Al-Megrahi. I call on all British and Scottish authorities to use their influence to try to persuade Minister MacAskill to take the just and moral course of keeping Al-Megrahi behind bars in Scotland for the remainder of his days."